Supporting device



Dec. 12, 1933. Q SHAFER, JR 1,939,086

SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed May 25, 1931 INVENTO/P /.C. SHAFER JR.

A 7'TORNEY Patented Dec. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Bell Telephone Laboratories,

Incorporated,

New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 25, 1931. Serial No. 539,809

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in clamps for securing flexible members and more particularly to the support of electrical conducors.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved device of the above character which furnishes an efficient and durable clamping means for securing the wires without injury thereto and which adapts itself readily to wires or conductors of varying diameter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clamp which is of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction which may be readily and quickly applied to wires and detached therefrom without the use of special tools and with a minimum amount of time and labor.

In accordance with my invention, my improved clamp comprises an elongated member of substantially U-shaped cross-section having a supporting means secured to the central portion thereof and projecting ears formed on opposite ends of the clamp, said ears being bent around the clamp when it is crimped in position around the wire to be supported to prevent the'wire from working itself out of'the clamp.

Referring now to the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates applicants clamp supporting a branch telephone line;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of applicant's clamp before the wire to be supported is inserted therein; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of applicants clamp with the wire to be supported gripped therein and the projecting ears bent therearound.

As shown in the drawing, the clamp comprises a body member 10 and a supporting tab 11, said body member 10 provided on each side of said tab 11 with wire securing means 12 and 13. These wire securing means 12 and 13 comprise elongated channels of substantially U-shaped crosssection and are divided into sections 14, 15, 16 and 17 by means of the cuts or slots 18, which are made at desired intervals on one side of the channel, preferably the top side. This construction allows the upper sections 14, 15, 16 and 1'7 to be readily bent downward to embrace the wire 19 within the clamp. The clamp is so constructed to permit suflicient pressure to be exerted on the individual sections to hold the wire 19 securely in clamped position.

Located on the lower portion 20 of the clamping member 10 and integral therewith are the projecting ears 21 and 22, these ears being located at each end of the clamp and are arranged to be bent over the sections 14 and 17 and engage the notched portions 23 and 24 of 7 be rolled or stamped and are adapted to be applied to the wires to provide sufiicient pressure to prevent their slipping without injury to their insulated covering.

As shown in Fig. 3, it is customary to seat one or more parallel wires in a clamp and after the wires are in place the sections 14, l5, l6 and 17 are closed down upon the wire 19 by means of a suitable tool, such as a pair of pliers. After this operation is completed, the projecting ears 21 and 22 are bent up around the sections 14 and 15 to prevent the wire 19 from slipping out and to also hold the sections 14 and 17 securely against the wire 19.

From the foregoing it can be readily observed that applicant has devised a clamp which is not only cheap to manufacture, but one'that can be applied with a minimum amount of time and skill.

What is claimed is: g

A clamp for supporting wires and the like comprising anelongated member having a centrally located supporting member projecting therefrom, channel portions on each side of said supporting member of substantially elliptical cross-section, the upper wall of said channel portions being divided into sections and provided with corrugations thereon, one of said sections provided at its end portion with notches, and ears projecting from the lower wall of said channel portion in alignment with said notches, said ears adapted to engage said notches when they are bent over said upper wall, the bent portion of said ears being in alignmentwith the front edge of said upper wall.

' IRA C. SHAFER, JR. 

